2024 Volume 28 Issue 2 Pages 38-51
It is well known that the labial p in Old Japanese was spirantized to ɸ and, in the initial position, finally changed to h sound about the 18th century. Firstly, we discuss the chronological order of the intervocalic lenition p > ɸ > w and the initial p > ɸ in terms of the naturalness of sound changes. Secondly, we argue that the initial p of the mimetic roots was as a rule spirantized, and most of the forms disappeared in the process of the change ɸ > h, as opposed to the bifurcation theory suggesting that the spirantization p > ɸ did not target the sound symbolic words. We conclude that the lenition p > ɸ occurred more regularly rather than considered in the literature. Other relevant historical issues are also reviewed and discussed.
